under the hood

[Pensacola Beachcomber]

It's great when I can just stand in the yard and catch'em flying by. This
guy/gal made a number of approaches under the hood. Guess the have more fun
here than at Eglin AFB.

[Mike Barnard]

On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:56:15 -0500, "Pensacola Beachcomber"
> wrote:

>It's great when I can just stand in the yard and catch'em flying by. This
>guy/gal made a number of approaches under the hood. Guess the have more fun
>here than at Eglin AFB.
>

For those of us who don't live aircraft, unfortunately, what is "under
the hood"? No comments on big block chevvies please!

Lower than normal?

[Pensacola Beachcomber]

If you look at this photo you will see that the back half of the cockpit,
where the co-pilot normally sits, has a hood blocking the view. The hood is
pulled forward and makes it very dark inside the cockpit. The pilot in the
back then flies the aircraft on instruments even though it's not night time.
The guy in front is probably an instructor or flight inspector making sure
the flight is being conducted safely and within the parameters of the
mission. We see different types of trainers (T-34 Mentor, T-6 Texan) with
the same type of hood installed. It's better than training in a simulator
because the aircraft is moving and subject to all of the normal buffeting,
crosswinds, etc. I don't know if a simulator flight is as realistic.
Probably not or they wouldn't spend the money to do it in a real aircraft.

Hope that explained it, Tom in Pensacola


"Mike Barnard" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:56:15 -0500, "Pensacola Beachcomber"
> > wrote:
>
>>It's great when I can just stand in the yard and catch'em flying by. This
>>guy/gal made a number of approaches under the hood. Guess the have more
>>fun
>>here than at Eglin AFB.
>>
>
> For those of us who don't live aircraft, unfortunately, what is "under
> the hood"? No comments on big block chevvies please!
>
> Lower than normal?
>
>

[dabears525]

Hello Tom,
I always look forward to your great pictures.

I am wondering about the Blues practice schedule before a show. They are
coming up to our area, Smyrna TN
on April 12 & 13. I was hoping to catch their practice on the 11th and beat
the crowds! Do they typically go out around their show time to practice,
(around 4PM here) or is there a set routine?

Ironically, they were scheduled to do a show here in September 2001 and we
all remember why that was cancelled. So we are lucky to get them back.

Thanks,
Ron Anderson



"Pensacola Beachcomber" > wrote in
message ...
> If you look at this photo you will see that the back half of the cockpit,
> where the co-pilot normally sits, has a hood blocking the view. The hood
> is pulled forward and makes it very dark inside the cockpit. The pilot in
> the back then flies the aircraft on instruments even though it's not night
> time. The guy in front is probably an instructor or flight inspector
> making sure the flight is being conducted safely and within the parameters
> of the mission. We see different types of trainers (T-34 Mentor, T-6
> Texan) with the same type of hood installed. It's better than training in
> a simulator because the aircraft is moving and subject to all of the
> normal buffeting, crosswinds, etc. I don't know if a simulator flight is
> as realistic. Probably not or they wouldn't spend the money to do it in a
> real aircraft.
>
> Hope that explained it, Tom in Pensacola
>
>
> "Mike Barnard" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:56:15 -0500, "Pensacola Beachcomber"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>It's great when I can just stand in the yard and catch'em flying by.
>>>This
>>>guy/gal made a number of approaches under the hood. Guess the have more
>>>fun
>>>here than at Eglin AFB.
>>>
>>
>> For those of us who don't live aircraft, unfortunately, what is "under
>> the hood"? No comments on big block chevvies please!
>>
>> Lower than normal?
>>
>>
>
>

[Pensacola Beachcomber]

It's been my experience that the practice day is a great time for the
photographer. There are no crowds. Every airshow I've been to has had the
Blues starting at 1400 local. Fat Albert does his show for about ten
minutes and then the Blues take off. I'd ask your airshow organizers for a
program of events. Whatever is supposed to take place on the 12th and 13th
should also take place on the 11th. Depending on the orientation of the
field it's best to be on the right hand side of the airfield so you can get
good shots of the Blues coming around in echelon formation, etc. The sneak
pass comes from the left hand side of the airfield. At about fourteen
minutes into the show the diamond will come from eleven o'clock to the
center of the airfield with their smoke on. The will do a high arch over
the field leaving a faint trail of smoke. The sneak pass will then zoom
from left to right. Immediately after that the opposing solo will come from
behind the crowd and cut across the axis that the sneak pass flew. The
opposing solo goes into a really steep climb and it's usually a great vapor
shot!!

Good luck and post some of your photos after the show, Tom


"dabears525" > wrote in message
. ..
> Hello Tom,
> I always look forward to your great pictures.
>
> I am wondering about the Blues practice schedule before a show. They are
> coming up to our area, Smyrna TN
> on April 12 & 13. I was hoping to catch their practice on the 11th and
> beat
> the crowds! Do they typically go out around their show time to practice,
> (around 4PM here) or is there a set routine?
>
> Ironically, they were scheduled to do a show here in September 2001 and we
> all remember why that was cancelled. So we are lucky to get them back.
>
> Thanks,
> Ron Anderson
>
>
>
> "Pensacola Beachcomber" > wrote
> in message ...
>> If you look at this photo you will see that the back half of the cockpit,
>> where the co-pilot normally sits, has a hood blocking the view. The hood
>> is pulled forward and makes it very dark inside the cockpit. The pilot
>> in the back then flies the aircraft on instruments even though it's not
>> night time. The guy in front is probably an instructor or flight
>> inspector making sure the flight is being conducted safely and within the
>> parameters of the mission. We see different types of trainers (T-34
>> Mentor, T-6 Texan) with the same type of hood installed. It's better
>> than training in a simulator because the aircraft is moving and subject
>> to all of the normal buffeting, crosswinds, etc. I don't know if a
>> simulator flight is as realistic. Probably not or they wouldn't spend the
>> money to do it in a real aircraft.
>>
>> Hope that explained it, Tom in Pensacola
>>
>>
>> "Mike Barnard" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:56:15 -0500, "Pensacola Beachcomber"
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>>It's great when I can just stand in the yard and catch'em flying by.
>>>>This
>>>>guy/gal made a number of approaches under the hood. Guess the have more
>>>>fun
>>>>here than at Eglin AFB.
>>>>
>>>
>>> For those of us who don't live aircraft, unfortunately, what is "under
>>> the hood"? No comments on big block chevvies please!
>>>
>>> Lower than normal?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

[Mike Barnard]

On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:38:31 -0500, "Pensacola Beachcomber"
> wrote:

>If you look at this photo you will see that the back half of the cockpit,
>where the co-pilot normally sits, has a hood blocking the view. The hood is
>pulled forward and makes it very dark inside the cockpit. The pilot in the
>back then flies the aircraft on instruments even though it's not night time.
>The guy in front is probably an instructor or flight inspector making sure
>the flight is being conducted safely and within the parameters of the
>mission. We see different types of trainers (T-34 Mentor, T-6 Texan) with
>the same type of hood installed. It's better than training in a simulator
>because the aircraft is moving and subject to all of the normal buffeting,
>crosswinds, etc. I don't know if a simulator flight is as realistic.
>Probably not or they wouldn't spend the money to do it in a real aircraft.
>
>Hope that explained it, Tom in Pensacola
>

Thanks for the explanation Tom. I love to zoom in as close as I can on
pics to see whats happening, but I didn't notice the cover.

I'm in the UK and the only airport local to me is Shoreham.
Unfortunately my little pocket compact hasn't the zoom to see the
planes. I don't suppose there's much point in posting pics of dots in
the sky! :)

Mike in Sussex, UK.

[Scubabix]

When I was a helicopter crewman, the pilots had a much simpler method. It
was simply a cardboard cutout, that when inserted into the cover over the
faceshield, would block the view out of the windshield. I would guess the
T-38's system cost a bit more.

Rob

[Pensacola Beachcomber]

Looks like a plastic shower curtain to me. See the attachment, Tom


"Scubabix" > wrote in message
...
> When I was a helicopter crewman, the pilots had a much simpler method. It
> was simply a cardboard cutout, that when inserted into the cover over the
> faceshield, would block the view out of the windshield. I would guess the
> T-38's system cost a bit more.
>
> Rob
>
>